20

transformed, and the following is substantially^ what he-
himself said :

^It was about six weeks before I left Madura for
good that the great change in my life took place. It was-
so sudden. One day I sat up alone on the first floor of:

my uncle's house. I was in my usual health. I seldom
had any illness. I was a heavy sleeper. When I was at
Dindigul in 1891 a huge crowd had gathered close to the-
room where I slept and tried to rouse me by shouting and.
knocking at the door, all in vain, and it was only by their
getting into my room and giving me a violent shake that
I was roused from my torpor. This heavy sleep was rather"
a proof of good health. I was also subject to fits of half-
awake sleep at night. My wily playmates, afraid to trifle-
with me when I was awake, would go to me when I was.
asleep, rouse me, take me all round the playground, beat
me, cuff me, sport with me, and bring me back to my bed'
—and all the while I would put up with everything with
a meekness, humility, forgiveness, and passivity unknown;

to my waking state. When the morning broke I had no
remembrance of the night's experiences. But these fits-
did not render me weaker or less fit for life, and were
hardly to be considered a disease. So, on that day as I

* " Substantially."—The exact words have not been recorded.
The Swami as a rule talks quite impersonally. There is seldom.-
any clear or pronounced reference to *!' or 'you* in what he-
says. The genius of Tamil is specially suited for such imper-
sonal utterances, and he generally talks Tamil. However, one
studying his words and ways discovers personal references, „
mostly veiled. His actual words may be found too colourless
and hazy to suit or appeal to many readers, especially of the'
Western type. Hence the use here of the customary phraseology
with its distinct personal reference.